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l. F. MCQUEENY. TRAVELERS CHECK.

APPLICATION FILED IuIY I1, Ism.

Patented June 24, 1919.

MPN J WIT/VESSES:

A TTOHNEY TOBIT F. MGQUEEN'Y, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI` TRAVELEBIS CHECK.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHN a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and ;State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Travelers Checks, of which the following is a specification. e

This invention relates to travelers checks and my Objectis to produce a check or the like, for the use of travelers or in transactions where payment is to be made on demand and the payee can only be identified ordinarily by hls signature.

More specifically my object is to produce a check or the like containing a concealed signature of the person to whom the check is made payable and a space wherein the payee shall be required to sign his name at the bank or other institution where the check is presented for payment so that the oiiicial or clerk may uncover the concealed signature and compare it with the other signature to determine whether or not the check shall be honored.

Another object is to produce a check of the character outlined having means for rendering opaque that portion 4of the check containing the concealed signature so that it shall be impossible for a person to determine what the concealed name is without mutilating or tampering with the check or seal and ment may be refused.

With these objects in view the invention consists rimarily in the provision of a check or the l1 e containing the signature of the payee and means for concealing such signathereby giving grounds upon which payture in such a manner that it can not be declphered without mutilation of the seal or check, and in order that the invention may be fully understood reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1, is a face view of a check embodying my invention, prior to the concealment of the signature of the payee.

Fi 2, is a similar view of the check with the s1 ature concealed and ready to receive a du bankpor other institution where the check is presented for payment.

Fi 3, is a bottom edge v1ew of the comple check as shown in 2.

Fig. 4, is a similar view of a modlied form of the check. I In the said drawing,`1 indicates a check Specification of Letters Patent.

F. MGQUEENY,

'cover the purchasers s1 icate signature by the payee at the Patented June 24, 1919.

Application medquly 17, 191s. serial No. 109,813.

containing in addition to the customary written or printed matter, two places for the signature of the payee, and a statement to the effect that if thesealing element, hereinafter mentioned, is mutilated the check will be honored only at the bank or place where it was purchased. The check is also provided with a sealing iap 2, which is indicated in Figs. 1 to 3 incluslve, as of integral construction with the body of the check, but which may be applied thereto after issuance of the check to the purchaser, as hereinafter explained.

The flap 2 contains adhesive on its inner side around its margin as indicated by the v shade lines 3, so that when the flap is folded over the body ofthe check so as to cover and conceal the signature thereon of the purchaser, it will retain its position. The flap is also provided with an 'opaque or equivalent panel 4, by blackening its inner surface, or otherwise, which panel when the a is. fastened tothe body of the check sha ature thereon and thereby make it impossible for a person to decipher the name and the peculiarities of the signature. The ilap will preferably be weakened by a line of perforations 5 extending completely around the panel inside the mmed margins so that an official of the institution from which payment is demanded may readily tear out that ortion of the label inclosed by the perforate lines, for the purpose of exposing the concealed signature.

Afterthe Hap is fastened down upon the body of the check, the issuing bank or institution will apply an embossing seal, or the like, to the lcheck and ap, the embossing preferably being of s uch character as to emboss the check and seal completely around the concealed signature of the check, as indicated at 6, .though it will be understood that the special character of embossment is unimportant, as it is employed simply to make it more diiicult for a person to obtain access to the signature without mutilation of the Hap. It will of course be understood that the bank or institution which pays the check need exercise no care in the removal of the iiap beyond that necessary to expose the concealed signature for comparative purposes.

When the check is presented for payment the holder willl be required to sign 1t at the place rovided for thesecond signature, and then t e oiiicial of the institution upon which the demand for payment is made, will tear of the flap and thus expose the concealed signature to satisfy himself that the signatures correspond and that the person demanding payment was the purchaser of the check from the issuingI institution.

In Fig. 4, the sealing liap 2 comprises a folded strip of paper fitted around one edge of the check and secured to the same at botlr sides. With the proper kind of paper, the signature may Ibe concealed without the provision of a specially prepared opaque panel, that is to sa the color of the check or the concealing ap may besuch as to make it impossible for a person to decipher the name under said Hap, after once being caused to adhere to the body of the check and embossed with a seal, it can not he withdrawn without mutilation.

It will be understood of course that .the places for the duplicate signatures of the purchaser may be n the back or face of the check or at opposite sides thereof, thou h to facilitate comparison by the proper o cial of the institution to which the check is presented for payment, it is preferable to have the two signatures appear on the same side of the chec It will be understood that while I'have illustrated the preferred embodiments of the invention, I lreserve the right to all changes which properly fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

A travelers check containing` the customary data on its face and a place in the lower right hand corner for the payees signature when the check is presented for payment and a place in the lower left hand corner for the payees signature when the check is issued to him, said check also having a foldable extension at its lower left hand corner adapted to be folded over the payees signature, said extension having an opaque panel to cover said signature so that it cannot be deciphered by holding the check up to the light, and having a gummed surface inclosing said panel and adapted when moistened and folded down upon the face of the check to adhere to the same around the said signature.

In testimony whereof, I aix my signature, in the presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN F. MCQUEENY.

Witnesses:

. H. C. RoDGERs,

G. Y. THoRPE. 

